Manila: The Philippines' competitiveness in the information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) sector got a further boost following the lifting of the seven-year moratorium on the establishment of IT parks in Metro Manila. This was underscored by Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso Panga, in a news release Thursday, following the release of Administrative Order (AO) 45, which was signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on July 23, 2026.
According to Philippines News Agency, 'We thank President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto, Trade Secretary and PEZA Board Chair Cristina A. Roque, and Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go for supporting the resolution of this seven-year issue. AO 45 is a major policy breakthrough that strengthens our ability to compete for the next wave of IT-BPM, global capability center, and other technology-enabled investments,' Panga said.
PEZA said the AO provides the Philippines greater opportunities as more countries such as Australia and Japan seek more options on outsourcing business, digital operations, engineering, and other knowledge-based services. 'It (lifting of the moratorium) will also allow developers to register and market qualified office developments as PEZA IT Parks and IT Centers, making these spaces more attractive to PEZA-registrable enterprises looking for new or expansion sites in Metro Manila,' it said.
PEZA clarified that while property developers in these IT parks will not be entitled to fiscal incentives, the IT-BPM players may avail of various incentives. 'This allows our property developers to reposition qualified office spaces to meet the requirements of global IT-BPM companies. Developers can bring these projects into the PEZA ecosystem and market them as PEZA-registered locations, while DTI and PEZA will actively promote these spaces to potential locators looking for new or expansion sites in Metro Manila,' Panga added.
In a statement Thursday, Go said 'DOF supported the adoption of this measure (AO) as a strategic enabler for attracting high-value, innovation-driven investments by allowing businesses to locate where talent, infrastructure, and established industry ecosystems are most developed.'
'In pursuit of investments that generate the greatest economic value, the government will continue to direct fiscal incentives toward priority industries and activities,' he said. Go said that 'while real estate developers of new IT Centers and new IT Parks in Metro Manila are not covered by these incentives, qualified Registered Business Enterprises (RBEs) that locate in PEZA-registered IT Centers and IT Parks in Metro Manila may continue to avail of incentives, subject to applicable investment incentive laws and regulations.'
'By directing incentives to enterprises that generate quality jobs, exports, innovation, and higher value-added economic activity, the DOF supports the continued growth of the IT-BPM industry, while preserving the integrity of the country's investment incentives framework,' he added.
